forked

[ fawrkt, fawr-kid ]

adjective

1. having a fork or fork-like branches.
2. zigzag, as lightning.

forked

/ ˈfɔːkɪd; ˈfɔːkɪdlɪ; fɔːkt /

adjective

1. 1. having a fork or forklike parts
   2. ( in combination )

      two-forked

2. having sharp angles; zigzag
3. insincere or equivocal (esp in the phrase forked tongue )

Derived Forms

• ˈforkedness, noun
• forkedly, adverb

Other Words From

• fork·ed·ly [fawr, -kid-lee], adverb
• forked·ness noun
• un·forked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forked¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; fork, -ed ³

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to speak with / have a forked tongue, to speak deceitfully; attempt to deceive.

Example Sentences

All of the smart contracts, coins, and NFTs that exist on the current chain would be automatically duplicated on the forked, or copied chain.

From MIT Technology Review

Unlike lizards, when snakes collect odor molecules in the air to smell, they oscillate their forked tongues up and down in a blur of rapid motion.

From Popular-Science

It was during this period that these proto-snakes evolved one of their most iconic traits—a long, flicking, forked tongue.

From Popular-Science

Omar’s older brother, Nabil, has stayed behind to fight for his country, and it becomes clear that the brothers’ forked paths have caused a rift between them.

From Time

The paper apologized and forked over an undisclosed sum in “damages.”

From The Daily Beast

The investors typically forked over $12,500 or $25,000 to the salesmen, says the complaint.

From The Daily Beast

They would rather touch their mouths with their little forked instruments than with their fingers.

From The Daily Beast

One commenter summed up these sentiments: forked tongue: You mean you think any of us actually [i]watched[/i] it?

From The Daily Beast

In addition, pension funds forked over $1.7 billion in fees during the 2000s, according to a New York Times study.

From The Daily Beast

There chanced to be a forked tree close at hand, to which the major rushed and scrambled up with amazing rapidity.

From Project Gutenberg

The next instruments discovered in use among the Indians were straight, hollow reeds and forked canes.

From Project Gutenberg

People used to say that she forked the mine better than two of Boulton and Watt's 80-inch cylinder engines.

From Project Gutenberg

Out darted his forked tongue in anger, just as two arrows entered his body and ended his life.

From Project Gutenberg

He never left the mine until the engine worked better than ever before, and forked the water to the bottom of the mine.

From Project Gutenberg